Wire support for use in installing wire to a fence post

ABSTRACT

A wire support for use on a fence post including a body adapted to be supported to the fence post, the body having an upper surface having a wire receiving groove therein, such that in stretching barbed wire the wire may be rested in the groove in the body and after the wire is stretched it may be raised above the body and attached to the fence post, the body including means of preventing the stretched wire from pulling back through the groove in the body.

Umted States Patent [1 1 1 1 3,874,640

Wagner et al. 1 Apr. 1, 1975 [54] WIRE U T FOR E IN INSTALLING 2,970,7982/1961 Fritchle et a1. 248/124 WIRE o A FENCE POST 3,342,446 9/1967Curlett et al 248/ 1 3,411,754 11/1968 Fahrenholz 256/48 1 Inventors:Lawrence g 5539 E, 47th 3,572,639 3/1971 Shettel 256/47 Pl., Apt. 218,Tulsa, Okla. 74135;

A.M h,Rt.l,Tll, 33 ac a a a Okla Primary Examiner-Werner H. SchroederAssistant ExaminerConrad L. Berman [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1973 [2]] Appl.No.: 410,902

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 256/47, 256/37, 256/48, A wire support for useon a fence post including a 24/1 14.5, 24/115 R, 24/128 body adapted tobe supported to the fence post, the [51] Int. Cl E04h 17/24 body havingan upper surface having a wire receiving [58] Field of Search 256/37,47, 48, 55, 69; groove therein, such that in stretching barbed wire the254/82, 83; 403/389, 391, 396, 400; wire may be rested in the groove inthe body and after 24/] 14.5, 128, 129, 133, 134 R, R, 129 the wire isstretched it may be raised above the body A; 248/65, 124, and attachedto the fence post, the body including means of preventing the stretchedwire from pulling [56] References Cited back through the groove in thebody.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ATENTED APR 1 I975 WIRE SUPPORT FOR USE ININSTALLING WIRE TO A FENCE POST BACKGROUND, SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THEINVENTION Barbed wire, the wire most frequently used by farmers andranchers to enclose fields and pastures, is tightly stretched betweenfence posts. Loose wire is easily pushed aside by livestock. Stretchingbarbed wire is a difficult procedure. Normally, the wire is attached toa secure corner post and stretched by means of some mechanical device,such as a rope and pulley arrangement. After the wire is thoroughlystretched it is attached to fence posts. When the wire is intalled overshort distances, that is, distances of less than a hundred feet or so,the wire can be laid on the ground prior to stretching and pulled intoposition during stretching so that there is little problem inpositioning and securing the wire to a desired height on fence posts.However, in most agricultural applications, wire must be stretched forlong distances. Frequently wire is stretched in runs of a quarter milelength or more. A difficult problem encountered is that when a length ofwire is laid on the ground along a series of fence posts for a longdistance and then pull is applied 'to it, the wire frequently becomesentangled with vegetation on the ground or with other wires which havealready been attached to the posts. A person installing barbed wire isrequired, after applying tension to the wire, to walk back along thelength of wire being stretched and untangle the wire so as to allow itto be raised in position and so that more stretch can be applied to thewire before it is anchored in position. Frequently it is necessary foran installer to apply tension to a long length of wire fence, such as aquarter mile or more, walk back along the fence to untangle the wire,apply more tension to the wire and walk back again along the full lengthof the fence to untangle wire again as it rises into position. Thissequence of steps may have to be repeated several times. Thus a greatamount of walking back and forth along the fence as the wire is beingtightened is required.

This invention provides a device for removably attaching to a fence postto which wire is to be installed. The device is used by attaching it tothe post just below the point where the wire is to be ultimatelyaffixed. When wire is to be installed on a series of posts a device isattached to each post preparatory to stretching the wire. the wire isthen laid in the device on each post for the full length to bestretched. The wire is then stretched tight and the installer thenraises the wire at each post above the support and attached the wire tothe post. In this way the wire does not become entangled withvegetation, with the posts themselves, or with other wire during thestretching operation.

In addition, the device includes means so that as the wire is stretchedbarbs on the wire pass over the device but if for any reason tension isremoved inadvertently from the wire the barbs are intersected by thedevice to prevent the wire from returning towards the unstretchedcondition.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a wire supportfor use on fence posts as an aid in stretching wire.

More particularly, an object of the invention is to provide a supportfor removably attaching to a fence post for use as an aid in stretchingbarbed wire.

Still more particularly, an object of this invention is provide a deviceadaptable to-be removably attached to a fence post at a point below thatat which barbed wire is to be attached to the post to support the wirewhile it is being stretched, and including improved means of preventingthe barbed wire from inadvertently returning to the unstretchedcondition by intersecting barbs tending to pass in the oppositedirection.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wire support for use ona fence post which may be utilized to support wire while it is beingstretched in either direction, that is, from left to right or from rightto left, and which serves to intersect the movement or passage of barbson the wire in the unstretched direction.

These general objects as well as more specific objects will be fulfilledin the apparatus to now be described in the following description andclaims, taken in connection with the attached drawings.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of anembodiment of the device of this invention as shown secured to a metalfence post.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device as shown secured to a metal post.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device attached to a metalfence post.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the device attached to a metalfence post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings and to FIGS. 1 and 2,an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The device is shownaffixed to a metal fence post 10 shown in dotted outline. As shown inFIG. 2, typical metal fence posts 10 have a tee shaped cross sectionincluding a tee base portion 10A and a tee bar portion 108. The wiresupport includes a body generally indicated by the numeral 12,preferably formed of metal, such as steel or aluminum. The body 12 hasan upper surface 14, a back surface 16, a lower surface 18, a rearwardsurface 20 and a front surface 22. In the illustrated arrange ment theupper surface 14 and lower surface 18 converge to intersect each otherat 24 so that the embodiment illustrated is more or less in the shape ofan arrow.

The wiresupport 12 is removably attached to a post 10. One means ofattachment as illustrated includes the provision of a first boss portion26 and a second boss portion 28 spaced from the first. The boss portions26 and 28 extend from the support rearward surface 16 and are inclinedtowards each other. The Second boss portion 28 has a threaded openingtherein (not seen) which threadably receives a screw 30. The first bossportion 26 engages one edge of the post tee portion 108 and the innerend of screw 30 engages the other edge so that by threadably advancingthe screw 30 the device is secured to the post and by threadablyretracting screw 30 the device is easily removed from the post.

This illustrated arrangement is that which may be used in attaching thedevice to a metal post. Spaced apart openings 30A may be provided in thesupport extending from the front surface 20 to the rearward surface 1.6.When the device is to be used to support wire to be attached to a woodenpost nails may be driven through the holes 30A and 308 into the woodenpost. After the wire is attached the nails can be removed so as toremove the wire support.

The upper surface 14 of the support includes a wire receiving groovegenerally indicated by the numeral 32 formed therein. As shown best inFIGS. 3 and 4, the groove includes two portions. The upper portion ofthe groove is V-shaped providing opposed walls 34A and 34B slantingtowards each other. The second portion of groove 32 includes lower walls36A and 36B which are generally parallel to each other; The widthbetween lower walls 36A and 36B is sufficient to easily slidably passwire (shown in dotted outline and generally indicated by the numeral 38)to be stretched therethrough, but of a width less than that of barbs40.affixed to the wire. Wire 38 of the type commonly called barbed wireis shown in dotted outline. The wire 38 commonly includes two twistedstrands 38A and 38B. At spaced intervals the wire is provided with barbs40 which are typically in the form of short lengths of wire pointed atthe end and wrapped around one of the strands 38A or 38B. The barbs aretypically spaced such as approximately every 6 to 12 inches along thewire.

The lower surface 18 of the support 12 has, in the illustratedarrangement, a configuration the same as the upper surface 14. Thedrawing illustrates the use of the support 12 to stretch wire in thedirection indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2. When used instretching wire as shown in this direction the lower surface 18 performsno function. However, if it is desired to stretch wire in the directionopposite that shown by the arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is necessary toinvert the wire support 12. Thus by the provision of the upper and lowersurfaces 14 and 16 the support can be used to stretch wire in eitherdirection. The lower surface 18 includes a groove generally indicated bythe numeral 42 having the same dimensions and characteristics asdescribed for the groove 32 in the upper surface 14.

The bottom 44 of groove 32 is generally parallel the bottom 46 of groove42 as shown in the dotted lines of FIG. 1.

The rearward surface 20 is preferably concave as shown in FIG. 1 so thatbarbs 40 tending to pass in the direction opposite that the wire isbeing stretched intersect the concave surface and are directeddownwardly, forcing the wire more securely into the lower portion ofgroove 32.

Metal posts as currently manufactured typically include spaced bossportions 48. To receive the boss portion 48 a recess 50 is provided inthe wire support back surface 16.

APPLICATION When a barbed wire is to be stretched and secured to a lineof fence posts the installer first attaches a wire support 12 to postsat a position directly below the point where the wire is to beultimately affixed. It is not necessary that a wire support be attachedto every post. In practice a support attached to every eighth or tenthpost is adequate to support wire being stretched. The wire is then laidin the upper groove 32 in each wire support. With one end of the barbedwire secured to a corner or anchor post the installer stretches thewire. With the barbed wire supported in the groove 32 in each of thesupports 12 the wire is free from being entangled with vegetation, fenceposts, or other wires. The installer may then stretch the wire to thefull tension desired. As the wire is stretched it advances towards thepoint at which stress is applied. Barbs 40 on the wire pass through theV-shaped upper portion of the groove 32, engaging the groove sides 34Aand 34B. Thus stretch of the wire is unimpeded by the device.

After a barb passes over a support body 12 the strands 38A and 38B ofthe wire ride in the lower portion of the groove between the parallelwalls 36A and 36B. If for any reason tension is released from the wirethe wire would tend to withdraw in the direction opposite that at whichit has been stretched. The concave rearward surface 20 of the supportengages the barbs 40 and thereby prevents the stretched wire fromrecoiling towards the unstretched direction. Safety is thereby providedwhich tends to prevent injury to an installer if the pull isinadvertently relieved from stretched wire.

It can be seen that the actual appearance of the support body inpractice of the invention may vary considerably from that illustratedherein. It is understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiment set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is tobe limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, includingthe full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire support for use on a fence post adapted to removably supportfence wire of the type having barbs at spaced intervals, comprising:

a body having a front surface, a back surface, a top surface and arearward surface including side portions, the top surface being inclineddownwardly away from said rearward surface, the top surface having agroove therein, said groove having an upper generally V-shaped portioncommunicating with a lower unobstructed narrow portion of said sideportions having generally parallel sides, the narrow portion at thegroove being of a width to freely receive fence wire vertically into andout of the groove and to slidably receive fence wire therethrough, thenarrow portion of the groove adapted to be of less width than the fencewire barbs, the groove communicating with said rearward surface, saidgroove being adapted to freely permit the barbed wire to slide throughin a first direction but prevents the barbed wire from sliding throughin the opposite direction by the engagement of the barbs against saidrearward surface side portions; and

means adapted to removably support said body back surface to a fencepost.

2. A wire support according to claim 1 wherein said groove in said bodyupper surface has in the lower portion thereof walls spaced apart ofsufficient width to slidably receive the wire therein and of width lessthan the barbs. v

3. A wire support according to claim 1 adaptable for use on a posthaving a T-shaped cross-sectional configuration providing a crossbarportion and wherein said means of removably supporting said body to thefence portion includes:

a first and second spaced apart integral boss portions protruding fromthe body back surface, the boss portions being spaced from each other adistance slightly greater than the width of a fence post crossbarportion, the integral boss portions being inclined towards each other,the first boss portion having a threaded opening therein; and

a screw received in the threaded opening in said first, boss portionwhereby said second boss portion and said screw are adaptable toremovably receive a fence post crossbar portion therebetween.

4. A wire support for use on a fence post according to claim 1 whereinsaid body has at least one opening therethrough perpendicular saidreareward surface, said opening adaptable to receive a nail,therethrough serving as said means adapted to support said body to afence post.

5. A wire support for use on a fence post adapted to removably supportfence wire of the type having barbs at spaced intervals, comprising:

a body having a front surface, a back surface, a first side, a secondside, and a rearward surface including side portions, the first andsecond sides being inclined towards each other away from said rearwardsurface, each said first and second sides having a groove therein, eachgroove having a first generally V-shaped portion communicating with anunobstructed co-planar narrow portion of said side portions havinggenerally parallel sides, the narrow portion of the grooves being of awidth to freely receive fence wire vertically into and out of thegrooves and to slidably receive fence wire therethrough, the narrowportion of the grooves adapted to be of less width than the fence wirebarbs, the grooves communicating with said rearward surface, said groovein said first side being supported such that when the first sideisupward and the second side downward, said groove freely permits thebarbed wire to slide through in the first direction but prevents thebarbed wire from sliding through in the opposite direction by theengagement of the barbs against said rearward surface side portions,

and said groove in said second side, when supported such that the secondside is upward and the first side downward, freely permits the barbedwire to slide through in the second direction but prevents the barbedwire from sliding through in the opposite direction by the engagement ofthe barbs against said rearward surface side portions.

6. A wire support according to claim 5 wherein said rearward surface isgenerally concave.

7. A wire support according to claim 5 adaptable for use on a posthaving a T-shaped cross-sectional configuration providing a crossbarportion and wherein said means of removably supporting said body to thefence portion includes:

a first and second spaced apart integral boss portions protruding fromthe body back surface, the boss portions being spaced from each other adistance slightly greater than the width of a fence post crossbarportion, the integral boss portions being inclined towards each other,the first boss portion having a threaded opening therein; and

a screw received in the threaded opening in said first boss portionwhereby said second boss portion and said screw are adaptable toremovably receive a fence post crossbar portion therebetween.

8. A wire support for use on a fence post according to claim 7 whereinsaid body has at least one opening therethrough perpendicular saidrearward surface, said opening adaptable to receive a nail, therethroughserving as said means adapted to support said body to a fence post.

1. A wire support for use on a fence post adapted to removably supportfence wire of the type having barbs at spaced intervals, comprising: abody having a front surface, a back surface, a top surface and arearward surface including side portions, the top surface being inclineddownwardly away from said rearward surface, the top surface having agroove therein, said groove having an upper generally V-shaped portioncommunicating with a lower unobstructed narrow portion of said sideportions having generally parallel sides, the narrow portion at thegroove being of a width to freely receive fence wire vertically into andout of the groove and to slidably receive fence wire therethrough, thenarrow portion of the groove adapted to be of less width than the fencewire barbs, the groove communicating with said rearward surface, saidgroove being adapted to freely permit the barbed wire to slide throughin a first direction but prevents the barbed wire from sliding throughin the opposite direction by the engagement of the barbs against saidrearward surface side portions; and means adapted to removably supportsaid body back surface to a fence post.
 2. A wire support according toclaim 1 wherein said groove in said body upper surface has in the lowerportion thereof walls spaced apart of sufficient width to slidablyreceive the wire therein and of width less than the barbs.
 3. A wiresupport according to claim 1 adaptable for use on a post having aT-shaped cross-sectional configuration providing a crossbar portion andwherein said means of removably supporting said body to the fenceportion includes: a first and second spaced apart integral boss portionsprotruding from the body back surface, the boss portions being spacedfrom each other a distance slightly greater than the width of a fencepost crossbar portion, the integral boss portions being inclined towardseach other, the first boss portion having a threaded opening therein;and a screw received in the threaded opening in said first boss portionwhereby said second boss portion and said screw are adaptable toremovably receive a fence post crossbar portion therebetween.
 4. A wiresupport for use on a fence post according to claim 1 wherein said bodyhas at least one opening therethrough perpendicular said rearewardsurface, said opening adaptable to receive a nail, therethrough servingas said means adapted to support said body to a fence post.
 5. A wiresupport for use on a fence post adapted to removably support fence wireof the type having barbs at spaced intervals, comprising: a body havinga front surface, a back surface, a first side, a second side, and arearward surface including side portions, the first and second sidesbeing inclined towards each other away from said rearward surface, eachsaid first and second sides having a groove therein, each groove havinga first generally V-shaped portion communicating with an unobstructedco-planar narrow portion of said side portions having generally parallelsides, the narrow portion of the grooves being of a width to freelyreceive fence wire vertically into and out of the grooves and toslidably receive fence wire therethrough, the narrow portion of thegrooves adapted to be of less width than the fence wire barbs, thegrooves communicating with said rearward surface, said groove in saidfirst side being supported such that when the first side is upward andthe second side downward, said groove freely permits the barbed wire toslide through in the first direction bUt prevents the barbed wire fromsliding through in the opposite direction by the engagement of the barbsagainst said rearward surface side portions, and said groove in saidsecond side, when supported such that the second side is upward and thefirst side downward, freely permits the barbed wire to slide through inthe second direction but prevents the barbed wire from sliding throughin the opposite direction by the engagement of the barbs against saidrearward surface side portions.
 6. A wire support according to claim 5wherein said rearward surface is generally concave.
 7. A wire supportaccording to claim 5 adaptable for use on a post having a T-shapedcross-sectional configuration providing a crossbar portion and whereinsaid means of removably supporting said body to the fence portionincludes: a first and second spaced apart integral boss portionsprotruding from the body back surface, the boss portions being spacedfrom each other a distance slightly greater than the width of a fencepost crossbar portion, the integral boss portions being inclined towardseach other, the first boss portion having a threaded opening therein;and a screw received in the threaded opening in said first boss portionwhereby said second boss portion and said screw are adaptable toremovably receive a fence post crossbar portion therebetween.
 8. A wiresupport for use on a fence post according to claim 7 wherein said bodyhas at least one opening therethrough perpendicular said rearwardsurface, said opening adaptable to receive a nail, therethrough servingas said means adapted to support said body to a fence post.